Migrant Employee Wins RM65,000 Grand Prize In SG Company's 'Squid Game'-Themed Event
He shared that he has 17 family members dependent on him back home.
By May Vin Ang — 01 Jun 2023, 10:48 AM
A 42-year-old migrant worker in Singapore won SGD18,888 (RM64,000) in prize money after emerging the winner in a series of games organised during his company's annual dinner
The event held last Saturday, 27 May, was inspired by the popular South Korean survival drama, Squid Game, without the life-or-death stakes.
According to TODAY Online, the heavy lift and transport company, Pollisum Engineering, organised Squid Game-themed challenges such as the iconic 'Red Light, Green Light' game for their employees to participate in.
Just like the characters in the drama series, the employees got dressed in red tracksuit jackets with number tags, while game masters wore masks and red hooded jumpsuits.
There was also an inflatable ball filled with money hung up on the ceiling of the event hall, similar to the show.
The winner, Selvam Arumugam, from Tamil Nadu, India had not heard of the show before
The Straits Times reported that he has been working in Singapore since 2007, and has a wife and three teenage children at home.
He works as a rigger and signalman in the company, who inspects and maintains the safety of heavy lifting equipment at construction sites.
Despite not understanding the rules of the games, he said that he tried his best.
In a TikTok video of the event, Selvam can be seen falling to his knees and covering his face in disbelief when he learnt that he had won the grand prize.
The prize money is equivalent to one and a half years' worth of his salary.
Selvam told the company that he plans to use the prize money to build a home for his family in India
It was reported that he supports a total of 17 family members back home, after both of his older brothers passed away, leaving behind their wives and children.
"When I found out that I had won, I couldn't believe it... I called my entire family to tell them about this good news," he said in Tamil, as quoted by The Straits Times.
"My wife thought it was a joke at first until (my friend) spoke to her. All of them were celebrating and crying at the same time. This will be a moment that we will never forget for our entire lives," he added.
The company gave out a total of SGD100,000 (RM340,000) during the event that was attended by 210 employees
According to the company, each employee went home with at least SGD188 (RM640) in cash, while 35 of them who were chosen in a lucky draw to take part in the games won cash prizes of SGD588 (RM2,000) or more.
